Casting machine



sept. 5, 1,933. A, MCHOLS Er AL 1,925,495

CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept- 5, 1933- c.A. NlcHoLs Er AL 1,925,495

CASTING MACHINE Filed Sep 16, 1929 1l Sheets-Sheet 2 lmmmp Sept. 5,1933. c. A. NlcHoLs Er Al.

CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1929 11 ShQets-Sheet 3 Sept' 5, 1933- c.A. NlcHoLs Er AL 1,925,495

CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16. 1929 11 Sheets-Sheetl 4 Sept 5, 1933. c.A. NICHOLS ET AL 1,925,495

CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16. 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 mento/c 7 my(QuQ-QJWJC Sept 5 l933 c. A. NlcHoLs E-r AL 1,925,495

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CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16. 1929 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 11 Sheets-Sheet11 C. A. NICHOLS Er AL CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept; 16

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lva'ten-ted Slept. 5, -1933A UNITED 4STATE-s CASTING MACHINE Charles A.Nichols and Alva.I W. Phelps, Andertion, Anderson, Ind., a corporationWare Ind., asslgnors to Delco-Remy Corporaof Dela- Appucation september16, 1929 f serial No. 392,905

f 7 claims. (cl. zz-vz) This invention relates to machines for makingmetal castings in permanent molds and one of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide a machine of this character which shallbe simplein construction, durable and reliable in operation, and by whichmetalcastings may be manufactured at relatively low cost.

In order to accomplish this object the present invention provides amachine having a conveyor, a plurality of pairs of coacting moldssupported by the conveyor at least one mold of each pair being movablerelative to the other, independent mold operating devices supported bythe conveyor and each operatively connected with a movable mold, andmeans responsive to the movement of the conveyor for controlling themold operating devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for coolingthe molds, and to this end the present invention provides an airmanifold Within the conveyor and distributing pipes for conducting airfrom the manifold to the molds.

The conveyor of the present invention is stopped intermittently topermit pouring the by it. This object is accomplished by a brake whichis applied automatically when it is desired to bring the conveyor torest, and which is released automatically before starting the conveyorinto motion.

The present invention provides a mechanism operated by a power shaft forintermittently moving the conveyor. In this connection a further objectof the present invention is to provide means for so controlling theoperative connection between the power shaft and mechanism that thepower shaft will be disconnected from the mechanism after each movementof the conveyor, and to provide means for causing the -power shaft to beconnected with said mechanism, said means including a manually operablecontrolling member and provisions whereby release of the controllingmember is required before the connection between the conveyor mechanismand the power shaft can be reestablishd.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallyejecting castings from the molds after the molds are separated. In thepresent invention this is accomplished by ejector pins which extend intothe mold cavity and are connected with a plate exterior to the molds andoperated by suitable plate actuating device -which forces the pins intothe. mold cavity. In this connection it is an object of the presentinvendescription, reference being had tion to provide means forpositively retracting the pins from the .molds when the molds closeagain. 1

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following panying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment `ofone form of the present invention is `and a portion of the conveyorhaving been broken away for sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing in side elevation a pair ofcoacting mold members andv mechanism for moving one of the members, saidmolds and mechanism being mounted upon the conveyor which is shown insection, the section gleing taken substantialy on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4is a side elevation partly in section of a pair of coacting mold membersand mechanism for moving one of the members, the section being takensubstantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the mold members shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. (i is a composite sectional view, the upper half being taken on theline (ia-6a of Fig. 4, and the -lower half being taken on the line 6b-6bof Fig. 4, the molds being in closed position.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the molds in open positionand devices for operating the ejector pins which are shown extendinginto the mold cavities.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing how the machine can beadapted for pairs of molds, one member only of which provides the moldcavities. (Fig. 4 shows pairs of molds each member of which provides apart of the mold cavity). 4 A Figs. 9 and 10 are front elevations of themold members shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the lower partof the machine and shows particularly the valves and valve controllingmechanisms which control the admission of pressure uid to the cylinders,each of which operates a movable mold.

to the accom- Fig. 12 isa top plan view of one of the cylinder v rightbeing taken on' the line 13b- 13b of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig.

13 showing the valve in a different position for the purpose of causingthe cylinder to operate to open the molds.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 15-15 of Fig. 3 andis drawnto a larger scale than Fig.'3, and showsv an end elevationofdevice for controlling a clutch for connecting a power shaft and themechanism which intermittently moves the conveyor.

Fig. 16 is drawn to the same scale as Fig. 15 and is in part a sideelevation of the clutch controlling device viewed in Fig. 3, and isinpart a sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the brake for stopping the conveyor.

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of the brake and is taken onthe line 18-18 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view of the brake on the line 19-19 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 20-20 of Fig. 3, andFig. 20 and Fig. 19 constitute a diagrammatic disclosure of automaticmeans for controlling the brake.

The machine comprises a base 30 to which screws 31 attach a pedestal 32which, as shown in Fig. 3, carries bearings 33 and 34 for laterallysupporting a shaft 35 connected with the hub 364 of a turn-tableconveyor which is supported for circular movement about the axis of theshaft 35 by an annular ball bearing 37, also supported by the pedestal32. The conveyor hub 36 is cup-shaped and provides an outer cylindricalwall 38, a bottom wall 39 and a number of radially extending reinforcingribs 40. The hub 36 supports a cover 41 attached by screws 42. The cover41 is provided with a central opening surrounded by an annular ange 43which carries a collar 44 having a running fit with a centrally locatedpipe 45 for conducting a cooling medium such as air to the manifoldprovided within the hub of the conveyor.

The conveyor comprises also a number of spokes 50 which are attached byscrews 51 to the wall 38 of the conveyor hub and which are attached byscrews 52 at their outer ends to rim plates 53. The rim plates 53 arebolted together by bolts 54 cooperating with nuts 55. Screws 56 attachto the spokes 50 a plurality of brackets 57. Each bracket 57 provides amounting pad 58 to which a cylinder 60 is secured by bolts 59. As shownin Figs. 13 and 14 each cylinder 60 cooperates with a piston 61 attachedto a connecting rod 62 swivelly connected with a frame 63 which carriestwo bearing members 64 slidable upon two rods 65 extending from tubularlugs 66 integral with the bracket 57. The frame 63 supports a movablemold member having apertured lugs 69 through which tubular bolts 68 passand cooperate with nuts 68a to secure the mold 70 to lugs 67 of theframe 63. Thus the spokes 50 of the conveyor support a bracket 57' whichin turn supports the movable mold 70 and the iluid pressure device whichmoves it toward or away from the rim member 53.

The rim member 53 supports a companion mold 7l which coacts with themovable mold 70 to provide mold cavities 72. The mold 71 is providedwith lugs 73 through which pass tubular bolts 74 cooperating with nuts74a to secure the mold 71 to the rim member 53. Each mold memberprovides a main gate groove 75 and branch grooves 76 leading to thecavities 72 which are connected with vent grooves 77 shown in Fig. 5.Castings formed within the cavity 72 are ejected by ejector pins 80 and81 cooperating with the molds 70 and 71 respectively and adapted toproject into the mold cavities. The pins 80 threadedly engage a plate.82 which is supported by and guided by screws 83 threaded intov themold '10 and encircled by springs 84 which yieldingly urge the plate 82away from thevmold 70. The heaads of the screws 83 limit movement of theplate\ `2\away from thevmold '10. The ejector pins 81 are threadedlyconnected with a plate 90 supported and guided by screws 91 threadedlyconnected with the mold '11 and encircled by springs 92 which yieldinglyurge the plate 90 away from the mold 71. The heads of the bolts 91 limitthe movement of the plate 90 away from the molds 71. The springs 84 and92 nojjmally maintain the plates 82 and 90 in positions such that thepins 80 and 81 are retraeted'rom themold cavities as shown in Fig. 6.When the mold 70 is separated as shown in Fig. 7 from mold 71 by theoperation of uid pressure means to be described later, the plate 82 willbe engaged by stop rods 95 screw threadedly connected with the bracket57 thereby causing the plate 82 to approach the mold 70 and the pins 80to project into the cavities of the mold 70. In order to eject anycasting which-may cling to the mold 71, the plate 90 is moved from theposition shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7 by a rod 100 attachedto a piston, not shown, cooperating with a fluid pressure cylinder 101mounted on a bracket 102 located conveniently adjacent the periphery ofthe conveyor. Admission of compressed fluid to the ends of the cylinder101 is controlled by a valve, not shown, connected with the source offluid pressure and with the cylinder 101 by pipes 103 and 104 shown inFig. 4.

It is intended that the pins 81 should be retracted from the moldcavities of the mold 71 by the springs 92 after having returned theknockout rod 100 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Likewise it isintended that the springs 84 shall retract the pins 81 from the cavitiesof mold 70 by the time that the mold 70 has been returned to theposition shown in Fig. 6. However, should the ejectorpins 80 or 81 tendto stick in the molds and prevent the springs 84 and 92 from retractingthe pins from the mold cavities, these pins are positively moved out ofthe cavities due to the engagement of rods 110 and 111 adjustablyconnected to the plates 82 and 90 respectively and passing through thetubular bolts 68 and 74 and meeting end to end substantially on theparting line of the molds when the molds are brought together'I as shownin Fig. 6. Hence, it is apparent that if either or both sets of ejectorpins 80 and 81 tend to stick in the molds, with their ends projectinginto the mold cavities, the pins will be positively retracted when themolds are brought together due to the fact that the pairs of coactingrods 110 and 111 must return to the relative position shown in Fig. 6thereby causing the plates 82 and 90 to return to normal position. Whenthe mold is open for removal of the casting, the castings will fallthrough the space between the spokes 50 since this space is not occupiedby any part of the machine except the ducts which conduct a coolingmedium through the molds. These ducts. however, are located so as not tointerfere with the descent of castings from the molds.

The ducts for conducting cooling air from the air chamber in theconveyor hub to the mold 70 comprises a pipe 120 connected with an elbow12.1 attached by screws 122 to the mold 70 and by lill screws 123 to theframe 63. The bottom wall of the mold .70 provides an orifice matchingwith the orifice in the elbow 121. Thus air-is conducted around the wall72a of the mold cavity and is confined in proximity to said wall 72 by abaille plate 124 having an opening at 125. The pipe 120 is slidablethrough a bushing 126 attached to the side wall 38 of the conveyor hub.This permits the pipe 120 to move with the mold 70. The duct forconducting cooling air from the air chamber in the conveyor hub to themold 71 comprises a pipe 127 and a goose neck elbow 128 which isattached by screws 129 to the bottom wall of the mold 71 which isprovided with an opening matching with the passage through the elbow128. The cooling air is confined in proximity to the wall 72a of themold cavity in mold 71 by a baffle plate 130 having an opening at 131.

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 show pairs of coacting mold members each ofwhich is provided with mold cavities. Figs. 1, 8 and 11 show how themachine may be adapted for casting with pairs of cooperating molds, onlyone member of each pair having mold cavities. Fig. 8 shows that the moldshown in Fig. 4 has been replaced by a mold member 140 shown in frontelevation in Fig. 9, and that the mold 71 shown in Fig. 4 has beenreplaced by a mold 141 the front elevation of which is shown in Fig. 10.Mold 141 is provided with a plurality of mold cavities 142 which are fedwith molten metal from main gate channels 143 supplying side channels144. The vents are indicated at 145. The mold 140 cooperates with themold 141 to cover the mold cavities and to retain the sand cores 146.The mold 140 carries the screws 83 which support and guide the ejectorplate 82 as described previously, but the plate 82 carries no ejectorpins since there are no mold cavities in the mold 140. The mold 141carries the screws 92 which support and guide the plate 90 carryingejector pins 81a adapted to move into the mold cavities 142 when theplate 90 is acted upon by the knock-out rod 100. The cooling pipes 127and 128 conduct air to the mold 141.

Since there is no need for cooling the mold 140 the pipes 120 and 121have been omitted and the bushings 126 have,l been replaced by caps 126ashown in Figs. 8 and 11. When the machine is using the molds 149 and 141the usual rods 110 and 111 are provided for the purpose of positivelyretracting the ejector pins 81a in the same manner as has been describedwith reference to the preceding iigures.

Referring to Fig. 3 the conveyor is intermittently`rotated by a suitablemechanism operated by a power shaft 150 which drives a reduction gearingin a housing 151 and operatively connected with a shaft 152 to which ispinned a clutch member 153 which cooperates with a clutch member 154slidably connected with a shaft 155 by keys 156. The shaft 155 providesa collar 157. Springs 158 located between the collar 157 and the clutchmember 154 tend to urge the clutch member 154 toward the clutch member153 and thus cause the shaft 150 to be connected with the shaft 155 whenthere is nothing to obstruct movement of the clutch member 154 towardthe right as viewed in Fig. 3. The shaft' 15,5 is journalled in bearings159 and 160 supported by a frame 161 attached by screws 162 to the base30. Shaft 155 drives a bevel-gear 163 which drives a bevel-gear 164which drives a shaft 165 journalled in bearings 166 and 167 providedrespectively by the frame 161 and a frame cap 168. The upper end ofshaft 165 is connected with an arm 169 carrying a pivoted rollerv 170which, during a portion of its orbital movement in a counterclockwisedirection, engages one of a series of equidistant radially disposedplates 171 attached by screws 172 to the bottom wall 39 of the conveyorhub as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As gears 163 and 164 have the same pitchdiameter the arm 169 will rotate once during each rotation of the shaft155 and the conveyor or turn-table will be moved in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2 an angular distance equal. to the angularspacing between adjacent plates 171. Since the angular spacing betweenthese plates is the same as the angular spacing between the pairs ofmolds located at the rim of the conveyor it is apparent that these pairsof molds will be moved successively into a position indicated at D inFig. 1 where metal is poured into the mold cavities provided by theclosed mold members from a ladle 25 which is supported by trunnions 27resting upon a hooked member 26 supported from above. The ladle 25 maybe turned about the trunnions 27 by a handle 28.

The mechanism which includes the orbitally movable roller 170 carried byarm 169 and cooperating with plates 171 and which mechanismintermittently rotates the conveyor, might be permanently connected withthe power driven shaft 150, and the conveyor might be stopped bydiscontinuing rotation of the shaft 150. However, the present inventionprovides for automatically disconnecting the conveyor intermittentrotating mechanism from the rotating power shaft so that the conveyormay be stopped without discontinuing rotation of the power shaft 150.The means for disconnecting the power shaft from the intermittentrotating mechanism comprises a cam plate 180 attached to the hub of theclutch 154 and engageable with a roller 181 pivoted upon the upper endof a rod 182 normally maintained in the position shown in Figs. 15 and16 by a controlling device to be described. The present inventionprovides means cooperating with the rod 182 for withdrawing the roller181 from the path of axial movement of the plate 180 in order to permitthe clutch member 154 to engage the clutch member 153. This clutchconnecting means is controlled by a pedal and is so constructed andarranged that the machine will stop automatically at the end of amovement of the conveyor regardless of whether the operator has releasedthe pedal, and that the machine cannot be started again unless theoperator first releases the pedal and then presses it down again. Inorder to accomplish this result the rod 182 is slidable within a sleeve183 providing a recess for a spring 184 which cooperates with the rodshoulder 185 to urge the rod 182 upwardly. The sleeve 183 is connectedby a pin 186 with a lever 187 which is fulcrumed at 188 and is providedwith a notch 189 which receives an arm 190 of a bellcrank lever 191pivoted at 192 upon a bracket 193. The lever 191 is connected by a rod194 with a bell-crank lever 195 providing a pedal 196 and pivoted at 197upon a bracket 198. The sleeve 183 is guided by a bracket 200 attachedby screws 201 to the base 30. The levers 195, 191, 187 and the sleeve183 is normally maintained in the position shown in Figs. 15 and 16 by aspring 202 connecting the lever 195 with a stationary part and urging itin a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

The conveyor is started into operation by pressing the pedal 196downwardly thereby causing the lever 187 to move in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 15, thereby causing the -rod 182 to movedownwardly and retract the roller from the path of axial movement ol.'the cam plate 180. When this occurs thesprings 158 will be released tocause the clutch member 154 to move into engagement with the clutchmember 153. By the time the shaft 155 `has made a quarter turn in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig.. 15 a cam 203 extendingradially from a plate 204 attached to the clutch 154 will strike a lever205 upon its surface 206 thereby causing the levers torotatecounterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 16 aboutv a pivot 207 and tomove a pin 208 attached to the lever out of a groove 209 provided by therod 182. Therefore, regardless of the fact that the operator maycontinue to press the pedal 196 downwardlythe spring 184 will bereleased by the coaction of the members\203 and 206 and will cause therod 182 to move upwardly and the roller 181 to move again into thepathof axial movement of the cam plate 180. Therefore, at the end of onerotation of the shaft 155 to the sleeve 183.

the clutch member 154 will be moved toward the left out of engagement'with the clutch 153 due to the coaction between the cam plate 180 andthe roller 181.

The conveyor cannot be started into operation again unless the operatorwill release the pedal 196 so as to permit the spring 202 to return thelevers 195, 191, 187 and the sleeve 183 to the positions shown in Figs.15 and 16 in which position the groove 209 of the rod 182 is located inhorizontal alignment with the pin 208 whereupon a spring 210 locatedbetween the sleeve 183 and the lever 205 will be released to move thelever 205 clockwise so as to move the pin 208 into the groove 209. Inthis way the rod 182 is latched Consequently, after having released thepedal 196, the operator may press the pedal again to start the machineby repeating the operation of retracting the roller 181 from the path ofaxial movement of the cam plate 180. In this way the control of themachine is rendered more fool proof by reason of the fact that.

nected by elbow 221 and pipe 222 with a. pipe 223 shown in Fig. 3 andlocated on the axis of the turn-table conveyor. A joint 224 connectspipe 223 with an elbow 225 in a manner such that the pipe 223 may remainstationary while the elbow 225 is rotating. Elbow 225 is connected withpipe 226, elbow 227, pipe 228 and a. ring manifold comprising sectionsof -pipe 229 connected by Ts 230. Each T 230 is connected by suitablepipes including pipe 231 shown in Figs. 13 and 14 with a valvesupporting plate 232 having a threaded opening 233 for receiving thepipe 231. The plate 232 has a threaded hole 234 for receiving a pipe 235leading to the rear end of an air cylinder 60. Plate 232 has a threadedhole 236 for receiving a pipe 237 leading to the front end of an aircylinder 60. Plate 232 has a plain hole 238 through whichv air isdischarged.

Plate 232 supports a valve body 240 having passages 241, 242, 243 and244 which match respectively with holes 233, 234, 236 and 238 oi theplate 232. The passage 241 leads to an irregular passage 245 whichconducts air to a chamber 246 and to a chamber 247. Air may pass fromthe chamber 246 to a chamber 248 through a hole 249 in 'a valve seat 250and closed by a valve 251 mounted on a stem 252 andinormally-maintainedin closed position by a spring 253. Airnormally maintained closed by aspring 260.

Air may pass from the chamber 248 to the pipe 235 through the openings242 and 234, 'and air may pass from the chamber 248 tothe chamber 255through'a hole 261 in a valve seat 262 closed by a valve 263 mounted ona' stem 264 and normally maintained closed by a spring 265.- Air maypass from the chamber 255 to the pipe 237 through the holes 243 and 236,and air may pass from the chamber 255 to the passage 244 through a hole266 in a valve seat 267 and closed by a valve 268 mounted on a stem 269and normally maintained closed by a spring 270. The lower ends of thevalve stems are engageable with a latch lever 271 fulcrumed on a pin 272carried bybrackets 273 extending from the Valve body 240. The latchlever 271 is engageable with pins .274 and 275 carried by an operatinglever 276 fulcrumed at 277 upon the brackets 273.

When the lever 276 is "in the up position shown in Fig. 13 valves 251and 268 will be opened and valves 258 and 263 will be closed,consequently, air will be admitted to the rear end of the air cylinder60 through the following passages: 231,241, 245, 246, 249, 248, 242,235; and air will be discharged from the front end of the air cylinder60 through the following passages: 237, 243, 255, 266, 244a, 244 and238. The valves 251 and 268 will be maintained in open `position sincethe pin 274 is located toward the left of a plane intersecting thefulcrum 277 and the points of application of pressure of the.valve stems269 and 252 upon the latch lever 271.

When the controlling lever 276 is in down position,v shown in Fig.v 14,the valves 258 and 263 will be opened and the others closed,consequently air will be admitted to the front end of the cylinder 60through the following passages: 231, 241, 247, 256, 255, 243, and 237,andair will be discharged from the rear end of the cylinder 60 throughthe following passages: 235, 242, 248,261, 244a, 244 and 238. The lever276 will be maintained in down position shown in Fig. 14 due to v thefact that4 the pin 275 is located toward the right of a plane passingthrough the axis of the fulcrum pin 277 and the points of application ofpressure between the latch lever 271 and the valve stems 264 and 259.

In order that the pairs of molds will Vbe automatioally closedsuccessively as they approach the station indicated at D in Fig. 1 wherethe metal is poured intothe molds, rollers 280, each mounted on the endof a-lever 276, are caused successively to engage the inclined surface281 of a triangular plate 282 mounted on a stationary bracket 283 asshown in Fig. 11. In order that the pairs of molds will be automaticallyopened successively as they approach the station indicated at E in Fig.1 wherethe castings are ejected from the molds, these rollerssuccessively engage the inclined surface 284 of atriangular plate 285mounted on-a stationary bracket 286. The plate 282 is engaged by theroller 280 to cause the levers automatically closed and opened insuccession as the turn-table conveyor rotates to move the molds to themetal pouring station and then to the casting ejecting station. Butobviously levers 276 may ,also be operated manually, for example, beforethey are operated by the inclined surface 284. It is evident that theturn-table and parts mounted thereon have considerable mass,`there forethe turn-table attains considerable momentum during its intermittentmovements. In order to bring the turn-table quickly to rest withoutunduly straining the operating mechanism the present machine providesfor applying a brake to the turn-table before it has completed any oneof its intermittent movements. In order to accomplish this theturn-table carries on its rim a number of equally spaced brake shoes 300equal in number to the number of pairs of molds. These shoes are securedto the rim plates 53 by bolts 301 and nuts 302. 'I'he shoes 300 aresuccessively engaged by a brake member 303 comprising a plate 304carrying a strip of brake material 305 secured by screws 306 passingthrough clamping bars 307. The plate 304 is connected by pins 308 withrods 309 passing through guides 310 provided by a frame 311. The rods309 are threadedly connected with a plate 312 having an apertured lug313 which receives an arm 314 of a bell-crank lever 315 fulcrumed on apin 316 supported by a bracket 317 carrying the bracket 311 and an aircylinder 318 which cooperates with a piston, not shown, in order to movea connecting rod 319 which is connected with the lever 315 by a forkedblock 320 carrying a pin 321 received by a slot 322 in the lever 315.The brake plate 303 is urged upwardly against the brake shoes 30.0 bysprings 325 conned between the plate 312 and discs 326 attached toscrews 327threadedly engaging a cross bar 328 of the bracket 311. Byturning the screws 327 the compression of the springs 325 and hence thebraking pressure between the brake member 303 and the brake shoe 300 maybe adjusted.

Means are provided for automatically releasing the brake when it isdesired to begin the pe riod of motion of the turn-table conveyor inorder that the driving mechanism will not be resisted by unnecessaryfriction which would be present if the brake remained engaged with thebrake shoe. This is accomplished by automati-v cally operating the valvewhich controls the passage of air from a source of air pressure to thecylinder 318. Fig. 20 shows a valve body 330 having a port 331 connectedby a pipe 332 with an air compressor and a port 333 connected by a pipe334 with the head end of the cylinder 318. The valve body 330 isprovided with an exhaust port 335. These ports are controlled by a valverod 336 having a groove 337 to provide an annular passage between theports 333 and 335 when the valve 336 is in closed position shown in Fig.20, or between ports 331 and 333 when the valve 336 has been movedtoward the right into open position 336e shown in dot-and-dash lines. Inthe open position of the valve air will ow from a source of compressedair into the cylinder 318 in order to cause the lever 315 to move intothe dot-and-dash line position 315:1 thereby causing the plate 312 tomove downwardly and the brake member 303 to be released from the brakeshoe 300. The valve 336 is urged into position as shown in Fig. 20 by aspring 338 located between a shoulder 339 of the valve 336 and a collar340 threaded into one end of the valve body 330. This spring 338 urges acam roller 341, pivoted upon a forked block 342 attached to the valve336, into engagement with a cam 343 mounted upon a disc 344 attached tnthe shaft 155. The cam 343 is provided with'A arcuate slots 345 throughwhich pass screws 346 for securing the cam 343 to its driving disc 344in the desired position of angular adjustment. The cam 343 which rotatesin the direction'of the arrow 347 in Fig. 20 is provided with a lobe 348extending from a cylindrical periphery 349. When the roller 341 isengaged by the peak of the lobe 348 the valve 336 will be opened topermit air to pass to the cylinder 318 in order to release the brake.When the roller 341 engages the cylindrical periphery 349 the valve 336will be moved into closed position tocut of! the port 331 from the port333 and to connect the port 333 with the exhaust port 335 so that thesprings 325 may be released to cause the brake member 303 to be in aposition for engagement with a brake shoe 300.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the roller 170, which moves ina counterclockwise direction, is just about to engage a block 171 inorder to begin a period of motion of the turn-table conveyor. At thesame time the cam lobe 348 will be located at position 348a in order tocause the valve 336 to begin to open so that the brake will be releasedat the time the period of motion of the turn-table begins. By the timethat the cam 343 shall have moved away from the roller 341 into theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 20, to allow the valve 336 to moveinto closed position, the brake shoe 300, which had been engaged by thebrake member 303 at the beginning of the period of motion of theturn-table, will have moved away from the brake member 303. While thebrake member 303 is not vertically under any brake shoe 300 its uppersurface is maintained by the springs 325 above the horizontal plane ofthe lower surfaces of the brake shoes. Therefore, as the next brake shoe300 swings over the brake member 303 a bevel surface 300a of the brakeshoe will engage iirst with the right hand end of the brake member 303causing the latter to move downwardly so as to be engaged by the underhorizontal surface of the brake shoe. Therefore, the brake will haveoperated to bring the turn-table to rest by the time that the roller 170shown in Fig. 2 will have passed away from that block 171 which it hadbeen engaging While it was moving the turn.

table.

Rsum of operation Referring to Fig. 1 the letter A indicates the stationwhere the separated molds are cleaned out with an air blast preparatoryto receiving a coating of soot applied by a smoky flame issuing fromburner pipes 400. At station C or at the station immediately to the leftof station C the sand cores are inserted in the mold cavities. By thetime that the molds have arrived at station D they will have been closedso as to receive the molten metal poured from the ladle 25. By the timethe molds have reached station E they will have been separated to permitthe castings to be ejected. The molds are being cooled continuously sothat the castings will be substantially solidified by the time they havearrived at station E and so that the molds will be fairly cold by thetime that they have arrived at station B where the soot is applied.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A casting machine comprising, in combination, a conveyor, mechanismfor intermittently moving the conveyor, a brake for stopping theconveyor, springs for applying the brake, uid pressure means forretracting the brake, and means for automatically controlling the uidpressure means so that by the time the conveyor starts its movements,the brake will have been released, and so that before the end of itsmovements the brake will have been app1ied, a plurality of pairs ofcoacting molds supported by the conveyor, at least one mold of each pairbeing movable relative to the other, and means for operating the movablemolds.

2. A casting machine comprising, in combination, a turn-table conveyor,a plurality of pairs of coacting molds supported by the conveyor andlocated adjacent the rim oi the conveyor, at least one mold of each pairbeing movable relative to the other, independent fluid pressure moldoperating devices supported by the conveyor between the rim and hubthereof and each operatively connected with a movable mold, individuallyoperable valves for controlling the mold operating devices, and meansfor automatically operating said valves as the conveyor is rotated, saidvalves also being adapted for manual operation.

3. A permanent mold casting machine comprising, in combination, a base,a hub rotatably supported by the base, spaced arms extending radiallyfrom the hub, tie bars attached to the outer ends of the arms and toeach other, relatively stationary molds supported by the tie bars,relatively movable molds cooperating respectively with the stationarymolds, actuating devices for each of the relatively movable molds, andbrackets mounted upon said arms, each bracket supporting a movable moldand its actuating device.

4. A permanent mold casting machine comprising, in combination, a base,a hollow hub rotatably supported by the base and serving as a coolingfluid distributing manifold, spaced arms extending radially from thehub, tie bars attached to the outer ends of the arms and to each other,relatively stationary molds supported by the tie bars, relativelymovable molds cooperating respectively with the stationary molds,actuating devices for each of the relatively movable molds, each of saidrelatively movable molds together with its actuating device beingsupported by and between a pair of said arms, means for conducting thecooling fluid from the hub to the stationary molds, yand means forconducting the cooling fluid from the hub to the movable molds, each ofsaid last-named means including a rigid pipe having a slidableconnection with the hub.

5. A permanent mold casting machine comprising, in combination, a base,a hub rotatably supported by the base, spaced arms extending radiallyfrom the hub, tie bars attached to the outer ends of the arms and toeach other, relatively stationary molds supported by the tie bars on theinner side thereof, ejector pin supporting plates located adjacent tothe outer sides of said tie bars and each supported by a stationary moldupon means extending through an aperature in a tie bar, and eachcarrying ejector pins which ,extend through an aperture in a tie bar andinto a stationary mold, and relatively movable molds and actuatingdevices therefor supported by and between said radially extending arms.

6. A permanent mold casting machine comprising, in combination, a base,a hub rotatably supported by the base, spaced arms extending radiallyfrom the hub, tie bars attached to the outer ends of the arms and toeach other, relatively stationary molds supported by the tie bars,relatively movable molds cooperating respectively with the stationarymolds, 'an actuating device for each movable mold, brackets supported bythe arms adjacent to the hub, each bracket carrying l an actuatingdevice on the side of the bracket azijacent to the hub and carryingguiding and supporting rods extending toward the molds, a carriersupported by the rods` of each bracket and guided thereby forsubstantially radial movement, each carrier supporting a relativelymovable mold, ejector platesfor the movable molds, each ejector platebeing housed by the carrier and being supported by its movable mold andcarrying ejector pins extending into its movable mold, ejector plateactuating rods carried by the said brackets, said carriers havingapertures to permit engagement of the ejector plates by said ejectorplate actuating rods when the movable molds are separated from thestationary molds.

7. A permanent mold casting machine comprising, in combination, a base,a hub rotatably supported by the base, spaced arms extendingradiallyfrom the hub, tie bars attached to the outer ends of the arms and toeach other, relatively stationary molds supported by thetie bars on theinner side thereof, ejector pin supporting plates located adjacent tothe outer sides of said tie bars and each supported by a stationary moldupon means extending through an aperture in a tie bar, and each carryingejector pins which extend through an aperture in a tie bar and into astationary mold, relatively movable molds cooperating respectively Withthe stationary molds,

a carrier for each movable mold, an actuating device for each carrier,said actuating device and said movable mold carriers being supported bysaid arms, ejector plates for the movablemolds, each ejector plate beinghoused by a movable mold carrier and being supported by its movable moldand carrying ejector pins'extending into its movable mold, pairs ofaxially aligned hollow bolts, the bolts of each pair respectivelysecuring mold members to their supports (the movable mold to its carrierand the stationary mold to its tie bar) and pairs of aligned ejectorplate positioning rods extending through pairs of aligned bolts, thepositioning rods of each pair being attached respectively to therespective ejector-pin-carrying plates of the stationary and movablemolds.

